Donegal U-16s pegged back by second-half Monaghan surge in Buncrana Cup

Donegal have progressed to the last four in the Buncrana Cup but had to settle for a share of the spoils against Monaghan in Convoy.

Karl Lacey’s side, with previous wins earned over both Derry and Dublin, were looking to make it three from three in their final group outing.

And things looked good for the hosts approaching the 40-minute mark as they led 0-16 to 1-5.

However, the pendulum began to wobble back the other direction in the last quarter as three Farney goals dragged the visitors right back into contention.

Indeed, they crept into the lead for just the second time, headed into injury time as corner-back Sean Duffy hammered the net to leave it 4-8 to 0-18.

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However, a late, late two-pointer free from Finn Gillespie at least made sure Donegal salvaged a point.

Back at the outset, Donegal centre half-back Tadgh McDaid hit the first two points for the hosts as Monaghan, in between, got off the mark through Mantas Paulauskiene.

Darragh O’Hare and a Gillespie free then made it a three-point game on ten minutes. Alex McGinnity hit back for Monaghan but another Gillespie effort – this time from play – reinstated that previous cushion at 0-5 to 0-2.

McGinnity then nailed a quickfire double, both frees, to reduce arrears to the minimum. And when Ben McGeough grabbed Monaghan’s first maximum, the lead suddenly changed hands at 1-4 to 0-5.

Still, Donegal ended the half strong with a scoring blitz of six unanswered points as O’Hare nailed four, including a two-pointer and two frees, while Evan Duffy and McDaid, with his third of the half, left four in it at the break.

Donegal extended the gap to seven shortly after the restart thanks to Conor Griffin and Gillespie, with a two-pointer free.

Monaghan were off the mark in the second period through Gary Collins but with O’Hare nailing another brace, one from play and one from a free, Donegal were now eight to the good.

Mikey Doogan Burke snatched an over but Monaghan drew real energy from substitute Cillian McKenna's goal as 0-16 now led 2-6.

The same player then had another effort on goal stopped by Cormac Crossan as Donegal progressed down the other side and moved to 17 through Danny Óg Cooney.

But back bounced Monaghan as McKenna again found the net and the deficit was now back to two.

O’Hare replied for the home side but a two-pointed effort from McGinnity and that raiding fourth goal from Duffy threatened to turn this one completely on its head in the dying seconds.

Thankfully, from a Donegal point of view at least, Gillespie managed to level it right at the death with that crucial two-point free.

Donegal scorers: Finn Gillespie 0-7, 2 tpf, 2f; Darragh O’Hare 0-7, 4f, 1tp; Tadgh McDaid 0-3; Evan Duffy, Conor Griffin and Danny Óg Cooney 0-1 each.

Monaghan scorers: Cillian McKenna 2-0; Luke Kelly and Sean Duffy 1-0 each; Alex McGinnity 0-3; Gary Collins, Mantas Paulauskiene, Paul Gilmartin and Gary Collins 0-1 each.

Donegal: Cormac Crossan; Raynne Rowan, Mark Wilkinson, Niall McBrearty; Thomas McHugh, Tadgh McDaid, Fionn Coyle; Conor Griffin, Rory Gill; Oisín Mullin, Matthew McGinley, Evan Duffy; Finn Gillespie, Danny Óg Cooney, Darragh O’Hare.

Subs: Louis Cunnea for M McGinley (49), Darragh Slevin for Duffy (58), Luke Kelly for Gill (60).

Monaghan: Rian Quigley; Cormac McCion, Kyle Brennan, Sean Duffy; Luke Kelly, Aodhan Lawless, Cormac Kelly; Mantas Paulauskiene, Paul Gilmartin; Mikey Doogan Burke; Sean McCianna, Evan Butler; Gary Collins, Alex McGinnity, Ben McGeough.

Sub: Cillian McKenna for McGeough (37).

Referee: Pat Barrett (Milford).